A summary thread on lighting

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

So......do you happen to know how to install lights on a screened patio that loses light in winter, without getting electrocuted when it rains?

Check out this product 48" GLO Dual T5 HO 2 x 54W Lighting System by Hagen - AquaCave I use the 24" version of this in an installation where I gett water dripping on it. It's totally safe for aquarium use and comes with special caps that seal the contacts at the ends of the tubes. Rather pricy, but you get what you pay for. If I were going outdoors with supplemental lighting, I'd consider this fixture. Another option might be Metal Halide hot lights, but there is way more potential for water damage. Be sure to have a ground-fault-interupter (GFI) cicuit specifically for these fixtures. That will aid to safety as well as assure zoning complience.

[judygrove]

Hi Ross, Thanks for all the information you have provided on indoor lighting for the orchids. I have done a lot of research but still remain confused on one issue. My light meter reads in lux. I understand that I need to divide that reading by 10.76 in order to get approximate foot candles. That part is scientific fact. Then how do I get 1000 foot candles (low light for orchids) when there isn't a regular gro-light or flourescent or even the full sun bulbs which will accomplish that. Even in direct sun you have 6000 lux or approximately 558 foot candles. I am wondering if all these charts stating foot candles really mean lux. I know square footage and reflectors on the bulbs play a role but it still doesn't get the foot candles high enough.

Thanks for your help.
Judy

[Ross]

Originally Posted by judygrove

Hi Ross, Thanks for all the information you have provided on indoor lighting for the orchids. I have done a lot of research but still remain confused on one issue. My light meter reads in lux. I understand that I need to divide that reading by 10.76 in order to get approximate foot candles. That part is scientific fact. Then how do I get 1000 foot candles (low light for orchids) when there isn't a regular gro-light or flourescent or even the full sun bulbs which will accomplish that. Even in direct sun you have 6000 lux or approximately 558 foot candles. I am wondering if all these charts stating foot candles really mean lux. I know square footage and reflectors on the bulbs play a role but it still doesn't get the foot candles high enough.

Thanks for your help.
Judy

Judy, something sounds wrong here. In full sun you should be seeing nearly 4000 foot-candles (do conversion for Lux - I'm at a guest computer right now.) If you are reading less than that then there must be a scale factor you need to apply. Also 1000 foot-candles is only low for certain orchids. Paphs, Phrags, Phals, etc. all can thrive at less than this level but prefer 1000-1500 FCs. Foot candles are not Lux. Lux is a universal measurement used by places outside North America. In North America we tend to prefer foot-candles. Hope this helps. PM me if you have specific questions not addressed here.